"How am I anything like that bastard Borsalino!?"
Sengoku's voice erupted, his face flushing red with anger.
He seemed particularly sensitive to this topic.
"Whether it's personality, work style, or execution —
I'm nothing like Borsalino!"
Exactly where do you see the resemblance!?"
Just thinking about that sleazy bastard's smug smirks and infuriatingly sarcastic comments made Sengoku's blood boil even more.
Zephyr thoughtfully rubbed his chin, thinking it over seriously.
But after a moment's reflection, he realized he couldn't really find many similarities.
Finally, he muttered:
"...When you both use your Devil Fruit powers, you glow."
Clearly, this was revenge for teasing him earlier.
Seeing Sengoku's twitching expression, Zephyr finally smiled in satisfaction and shifted topics.
"But Sengoku... if this Darren kid has such a terrible reputation,
how did he even pass the review to join the Officer Training Camp?"
"Because his talent is overwhelming."
At the mention of serious matters, Sengoku's demeanor instantly sobered.
"You've been too absorbed in teaching lately, Zephyr —
you've missed some things."
"Darren, with the power and influence he amassed in the North Blue,
organized a fleet of terrifying strength."
"And with his Magnet-Magnet Fruit,
he turned that fleet into an airborne armada."
Zephyr's pupils shrank.
Shock flashed across his face.
As a pillar of justice,
a former Marine Admiral,
Zephyr instantly grasped the strategic weight of those two simple words.
Sengoku said heavily.
"With a weapon like that,
Darren's personal flaws were irrelevant."
"And besides his strategic Devil Fruit abilities,
his own talents are monstrous."
While speaking, Sengoku opened a drawer and pulled out a thick intelligence file.
He handed it to Zephyr.
"This is Darren's personal evaluation."
"Monster-level talent, huh?"
Zephyr took the file, flipping it open casually.
Having taught students like Sakazuki, Dragon, and Borsalino,
he thought he had seen every kind of "monster" Marine could produce.
How monstrous could this one be?
More than Borsalino, that lazy brat?
But as he scanned the pages —
his eyes widened so fast it looked like they would pop out of his skull.
"Body like iron — near invulnerable to blades and bullets?"
"Pure physical speed matching a Soru user's instantaneous burst?"
"Unbelievable regenerative abilities — healing lethal injuries in mere days?"
"Self-taught mastery of Armament Haki!?"
Zephyr gaped at the file.
the descriptions blurred into one horrifying realization.
In his mind's eye, he conjured an image of Darren:
A hulking ten-meter-tall beast,
horned, scaly, clawed,
a walking nightmare of muscle and armor.
And then he glanced at the attached photo:
A handsome young man with messy black hair,
an arrogant glint in his eyes,
smirking confidently.
Zephyr's brain stuttered trying to reconcile the two images.
Meanwhile, Sengoku couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Darren's a monster among monsters."
"But that's not even the best part."
lowering his voice conspiratorially.
"That brat awakened Conqueror's Haki."
The words dropped like a thunderclap.
As a man who had borne the title of Admiral,
who had once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the giants of the Marine world,
Zephyr understood perfectly well what that meant.
In the New World, among the chaotic seas,
many pirates awakened Conqueror's Haki.
The legends — Whitebeard, Roger, Golden Lion, Kaido, Big Mom —
each and every one of them had mastered it to terrifying degrees.
But on the side of the Marines?
Those who had awakened Conqueror's Haki were... painfully few.
Even Zephyr himself had never awakened it.
He had suffered bitter losses because of that fact —
unable to properly counter the overwhelming force of the kings of the sea.
He had relied on sheer Armament Haki and brute force to survive.
it had become a lifelong wish of his —
to train the next generation of Marines into warriors who could stand toe-to-toe with the monsters of the New World.
But not even Sakazuki, Borsalino, or Dragon had managed to awaken it.
It was his one lingering regret.
An overwhelming strategic Devil Fruit.
A monstrous body and talent.
And now, Conqueror's Haki?
The more Zephyr thought about it,
the more his heart pounded with excitement.
He could already imagine it:
Under his personal training,
this Darren kid would one day clash against Whitebeard or Golden Lion,
their Conqueror's Haki shattering the heavens,
the very world trembling at their battle!
Zephyr suddenly slammed a heavy palm onto the conference table.
His eyes burned fiercely.
He was breathing hard, filled with an uncontrollable energy.
As soon as he graduates, he's mine —"
Sengoku's face changed.
Panic flared in his heart.
"Don't even think about it!"
"I've already decided —
once Darren graduates, he's going to be my adjutant!"
From the moment Zephyr had opened his mouth, Sengoku had known exactly where this was going.
"You already have Borsalino!!"
The very mention of that name made Sengoku's face darken with fury.
"You can have Borsalino!!
Hell, I'll send him to Kong!
"And don't forget, Zephyr —
I already backed down when it came to Sakazuki!"
Zephyr shook his head wildly.
Sengoku, think about it —
a gem like Darren can't be ruined by you!"
"If you get your hands on him,
he'll turn into another Borsalino!"
Sengoku's face turned purple with rage.
"Borsalino was born that way!!
That has nothing to do with me!!"
you haven't even awakened Conqueror's Haki!
What could you possibly teach him!?"
He played his trump card without mercy.
Zephyr's thick neck flushed red with fury.
He slammed the table.
"And you're some grand master of Conqueror's Haki!?
With that pathetic excuse of a will!?"
"It's still better than you!!"
"You damn bastard Sengoku —
you must be itching for a beating!!"
"You think I'm afraid of you!?
let's see if your so-called 'Golden Buddha' head is as sturdy as you brag!"
Their snarling faces pressed together,
twisting in mutual rage.
a resigned voice interrupted them.
"Honestly, you two...
aren't you a little old for this?"
In walked a tall, commanding woman with silver-streaked hair —
still exuding the aura of strength and authority.
It was Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Great Staff Officer of Marine Headquarters.
She stared at the two grown men bickering like children,
a vein throbbing in her forehead.